Washington, DC (SportsNetwork.com) - Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby will not start Game 2 of the team's Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the New York Islanders due to an illness.
Philipp Grubauer, recalled from Hershey of the American Hockey League just hours before Friday's critical game for Washington, will make his first career NHL playoff start in Holtby's absence.
Grubauer played in just one game for the Capitals during the regular season and has made 20 career NHL appearances. The 23-year-old owns a 7-6-5 record with a 2.44 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage over those games.
In 49 games for Hershey this season, Grubauer compiled a 27-17-5 record with a 2.30 GAA. The 23-year-old German was part of an ECHL title-winning team with Reading two years ago.
Holtby, whose 41 wins and nine shutouts during the regular season were tied for second in the NHL, stopped 26-of-29 shots in Washington's 4-1 Game 1 loss to the Islanders on Wednesday.
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